I was in high school in March of 1997 and I remember still being shook up by the death of Tupac Shakur, 9 months prior.

That was just a bad period for hip hop.

Rapper Notorious B.I.G., aka Biggie Smalls, aka Chris Wallac
NY Daily News via Getty Images
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I remember waking up listening to the radio hearing the DJ saying Notorious B.I.G. was shot and killed last night in Los Angeles leaving an after party at the Soul Train Music Awards".

There was a so-called East Coast Rap Battle that had Biggy the leader on the East Coast and 2Pac the leader on the West Coast.

The first thing I thought when I heard the news of his death was 1) wow I can't wait to hear this new album and, the second thing I thought was how big of a tragedy it was because he was only  24 years old.

He was really trying to stop the beef as you can see in his last televised interview:

Part 2:

 

"Life after Death" his last album was released 16 days after he died eventually went Diamond, selling more than 10 million albums worldwide

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Although he only recorded 2 studio albums his impact 20 years later is still felt around the world and in the hip hop community. In my opinion one of the better lyricist of all-time!

Join me today on this fine Throwback Thursday as I celebrate the life of The Notorious Big by playing songs throughout the day and from 4 -4:30 wall to wall Biggie!

Check me out!! 

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